Portable device for cooling liquids

ABSTRACT

A portable device for cooling liquids is described comprising a container for receiving the liquid to be cooled, and means for supporting a compressed gas cartridge within the container in heat-conductive relationship to the liquid. The device further includes a handle carrying a pin which, when the handle is manipulated, opens the valve of the cartridge to effect the cooling of the liquid within the container by the rapid expansion of the gas as it discharges from the cartridge.

[ 1 Jan. 28, 1975 1 PORTABLE DEVICE FOR COOLING LIQUIDS [76] Inventor: Shaul P. Ladany, Haela Street 6,

Ramat Efal, Israel [22] Filed: Nov. 1, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 411,745

[52] US. Cl 62/294, 62/293, 62/457, 62/386 [51] Int. Cl. F25d 3/10 [58] Field of Search 62/293, 294, 457, 396, 62/386 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,746,265 5/1956 Mills 62/294 2,773,358 12/1956 Palmer r 62/294 2,805,554 9/1957 Schachtsiek 62/293 3,494,14l 2/1970 Irwin 62/294 3,520,148 7/1970 Fuerle 62/294 3,636,726 l/l972 Rosenfeld 62/294 Primary Examiner-William J. Wye Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Benjamin J. Barish [57] ABSTRACT A portable device for cooling liquids is described comprising a container for receiving the liquid to be cooled, and means for supporting a compressed gas cartridge within the container in heat-conductive relationship to the liquid. The device further includes a handle carrying a pin which, when the handle is manipulated, opens the valve of the cartridge to effect the cooling of the liquid within the container by the rapid expansion of the gas as it discharges from the cartridge.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PORTABLE DEVICE FOR COOLING LIQUIDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable device for cooling liquid, such as may be taken along during picnics and outings for cooling beverages and the like.

The usual way of cooling beverages during picnics and outings is by the use of a refrigerant such as ice or frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice). However, it is not always convenient to take such cooling materials along on a picnic because of their weight and the need to keep them insulated. Moreover, their cooling ability is limited to a relatively short period of time depending on how well they have been keptinsulated.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a portable device for cooling liquids having advantages in the above respects.

According to the present invention, the novel portable cooling device comprises a container for receiving the liquid to be cooled, and means for supporting a compressed gas cartridge within the container in heatconductive relationship to the liquid when received in the container. The cartridge may be of the conventional type having a gas outlet which is normally closed to hold the gas therein under compression. The device further includes a manipulatable member carrying an actuator element which opens the gas outlet, when the member is manipulated, to permit the rapid discharge of the gas from the cartridge. This rapid expansion of the gas as it discharges from the cartridge effects the cooling of the liquid within the container.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention described below, the supporting means includes a holder supporting the cartridge in a vertical position centrally of the container. The holder comprises a ring for receiving the cartridge therein, and an arm securing the ring centrally of the container. The supporting means further includes a dished surface formed centrally of the container for receiving the closed end of the cartridge and for supporting the cartridge in a vertical position with its gas outlet oriented upwardly.

The cartridge may be of a conventional type, such as one in which the gas outlet is closed by a valve which is opened by the actuator element, or one in which the gas outlet is closed by a sealed covering (e.g., of thin metal sheet) which is pierced by the actuator element.

Also in the preferred embodiment, the manipulatable member comprises a handle pivotably mounted at one end to the container and manipulatable from the opposite end, the actuator element being a pin carried intermediate the two ends of the handle. This pin is supported by a plurality of radial arms centrally of an opening formed in the manipulatable member. Preferably, the lower face of the manipulatable member carries an annular pad circumscribing the opening and adaptable to engage the upper end of the cartridge when the handle is manipulated.

The invention thus provides a cooling device which is extremely simple in construction, which is convenient to carry and use, and which retains its capacity for cooling for a substantial period of time.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of portable device for cooling liquids constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The device illustrated in the drawings is particularly useful for cooling beverages at picnics or outings. It includes a container 2 which receives the liquid 4 to be cooled. The bottom wall 6 of the container is raised at the centre to form a pedestal 8 having a dished or concave surface 10 for receiving one end of a compressed gas cartridge 12.

A holder is disposed within the container for supporting the cartridge 12 in a vertical position on the dished surface 10. This holder comprises a ring 14 having an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the cartridge, the ring being fixed to the container by a pair of spaced arms 16. The cartridge 12 is thus supported by dished surface 10 and ring 14 in a vertical position centrally of the container, with its gas outlet end 18 directed upwardly and disposed just above the upper edge of the container 2. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the gas outlet of the cartridge is closed by a valve 20.

A handle 22 is carried by a lid 23 pivotably mounted on hinge 24 to the container 2. The lid is formed with w an opening 26, and a pin 28 is supported centrally of the opening by a plurality (four) radial spider arms 30. Opening 26 through handle 22 is preferably of conical or funnel shape, being of larger diameter on the upper face of the handle than on the lower face, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. An annular pad 32 of compressible material, such as rubber, is carried on the lower face of handle 22 circumscribing opening 26.

Container 2 further includes a pouring spout 34 for pouring out the liquid 4 within it.

The device illustrated in the drawings is used in the following manner;

With the handle 22 pivoted open, a cartridge 12 is supported in a vertical position centrally of the container by holder 14 and dished surface 10 as shown in FIG. 1. The liquid to be cooled is poured into the container so as to surround and to come into direct contact with the cartridge. Handle 22 is then pivoted to its closed position, whereupon pin 28 engages the normally-closed valve 20 of the cartridge, causing the rapid discharge of the gas within the cartridge. This rapid expansion of the gas as it leaves the cartridge produces a cooling effect which is transferred to the liquid 4 thereby cooling it. The cooling liquid may then be poured out through spout 34.

When resilient pad 32 was not used, it was found that some of the gas rapidly discharging from the cartridge was deflected downwardly by radial arms 30 into the container and caused some of the liquid within the container to splash outwardly, particularly if the lid did not completely close the upper end of the container. This difficulty, however, was secured by the inclusion of the resilient pad 32, which in effect sealed the lower side of opening 26 from the upper end of the cartridge,

thereby preventing the discharging gas from being deflected by the radial arms 30 back into the container.

Many variations will be apparent. For example, the gas cartridge could be of the type which is closed by a thin metallic seal, the latter being pierced by the actuator pin. Also, the centre of the container could be provided with a protective tube or sheathe for receiving the cartridge 12, so that the liquid within the container will not come into direct contact with the cartridge, which is liable to be dirty. Such tube or sheathe should preferably be made of metal to maximize the heat transfer from the cartridge to the liquid within the container. Also, container 2 may include a handle to facilitate grasping it.

Many other variations, modifications and applications of the illustrated embodiment will be apparent.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable device for cooling liquids, comprising: a container for receiving the liquid to be cooled; means for supporting a compressed gas cartridge within the container in heat-conductive relationship to the liquid when received in the container, the cartridge having a gas outlet which is normally closed to hold the gas therein under compression; said supporting means comprising a ring for receiving the cartridge therein and an arm securing the ring centrally of the container for supporting the cartridge in a vertical portion centrally of the container; and a manipulatable member carrying an actuator element engageable with the gas outlet when the member is manipulated, to open the outlet and thereby to effect the cooling of the liquid within the container by the rapid expansion of the gas as it discharges from the cartridge.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said supporting means further comprises a dished surface formed centrally of the container for receiving the end of the cartridge opposite to the gas outlet and for supporting the cartridge in a vertical position with its outlet end being directed upwardly.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said dished surface is formed in a pedestal raised from the bottom wall of the container.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said manipulatable member comprises a handle pivotably mounted at one end to the container and manipulatable from the opposite end. said actuator element being in the form of a pin carried by the handle intermediate its two ends.

5. A device according to claim 4. wherein said handle is carried by a lid removably closing the upper end of the container.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein said pin is supported by a plurality of radial arms centrally of an opening formed in the manipulatable member.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the lower face of the manipulatable member carries an annular resilient pad circumscribing the opening therein for engageing the upper end of the cartridge when the handle is manipulated.

8. A device according to claim I, wherein said container includes a pouring spout. 

1. A portable device for cooling liquids, comprising: a container for receiving the liquid to be cooled; means for supporting a compressed gas cartridge within the container in heat-conductive relationship to the liquid when received in the container, the cartridge having a gas outlet which is normally closed to hold the gas therein under compression; said supporting means comprising a ring for receiving the cartridge therein and an arm securing the ring centrally of the container for supporting the cartridge in a vertical portion centrally of the container; and a manipulatable member carrying an actuator element engageable with the gas outlet when the member is manipulated, to open the outlet and thereby to effect the cooling of the liquid within the container by the rapid expansion of the gas as it discharges from the cartridge.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said supporting means further comprises a dished surface formed centrally of the container for receiving the end of the cartridge opposite to the gas outlet and for supporting the cartridge in a vertical position with its outlet end being directed upwardly.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said dished surface is formed in a pedestal raised from the bottom wall of the container.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said manipulatable member comprises a handle pivotably mounted at one end to the container and manipulatable from the opposite end, said actuator element being in the form of a pin carried by the handle intermediate its two ends.
 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said handle is carried by a lid removably closing the upper end of the container.
 6. A device according to claim 4, wherein said pin is supported by a plurality of radial arms centrally of an opening formed in the manipulatable member.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the lower face of the manipulatable member carries an annular resilient pad circumscribing the opening therein for engageing the upper end of the cartridge when the handle is manipulated.
 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said container includes a pouring spout. 